Tool joint



SEP- l, 1931# A. L. SEGELHoRsT 1,821,328

' TOOL JOINT Filed Oct. 29, 1927 Patented Sept. 1, 1931 Unirse srATES PATENT. OFFICE TOOL JOINT Application filed Gctober 29, 1927. SerialrNo. 229,606.

My invention relates to the type of tool joint commonly used in the oil well drilling practice for joining the sections of tubing orV casing used in oil wells, this being more particularly a type of joint which depends upon frictional engagement for the retention of the respective joined members and having, as a fundamental object, the elimination of the threads and upset ends ordinarily necessary in the type of joint now commonly used.

Other objects and advantages of my in vention will appear from the following de scription of the accompanying drawings chosen for illustrative purposes only, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a. perspective view showing` the relation between a portion of my invention and the oil well tubing.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views of modified forms of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view of a modified form of my invention, and

Fig. 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

More particularly describing my invent-ion as herein illustrated, 11 indicates a coupling,

collar, the ends of whichareprovided with annular recesses 12 and 13. These mentioned recesses extend parallel with the, axis of the coupling collar, to a substantial distance therein. They are segmental wedge shaped in section, each having an outer edge 14 parallel with the axis of the collar, and an inner edge 15 which is tapered outwardly toward the axis from an internal shoulder 16. 'The tapered surface which defines the inner edge 15 is formed on what may be termed an extending shank 17 and is provided withY an external thread 18, which is adapted toreceive an expanding split collar 19, having a tapered andthreaded internal surface 20 and a substantially cylindrical external surface 21. The mentioned end recesses 12 and 13 are further adapted to receive the ends of unthreaded tubing members 22 and 23 respectively, each of which internally engages the outer cylindrical surface of an expanding member 19 and externally engages the outer edge 14 of the recess. l

It will be understood that when the tubing members are in the position shown in Fig.

1, the relative advance of the threaded shank 17 into the expanding member 19 will cause the last mentioned member tok expand, having a resultant wedging action upon the tubing. It is therefore necessary to obtain best results, that there be no relative rotation between the tubing and thel expanding member which is accomplished by providing the expanding member withV meansA lsuch as the grooves 24, shown in Fig. 2, and the tubing member with correspondingprojections 25 65 and 26, which may be formed by any means, such. as punch marks or spot welding. It will be understood that the mentioned grooves may optionally be omitted and the slot 27 formed in the -split expanding col'- lar 19 used for the same purpose.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1, the coupling collar consists of anv outer cylindrical sleevemember. 28'and an, inner 75 tubular member`29. The outer ends ofthe inner member! 29 are provided with the shoulders 16 and the outwardly'extending threaded and tapered shanks 17. The outer sleeve vmembers 28 `and the inner tubular '80 which recesses are adapted to receive tubing members 22 and 23 respectively, the latter members being held in place by the split collars 19.

The modified form of my invention shown in Fig. 4 is the same in all respects as that ma which is .received by=a V opening 56 in illustrated in Fig. 3, except that the collar l1 is made in one complete unit 36.

In order to assure a tight union in the tool joints, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, I may provide the shoulder or engaging seat 16 with a packing ring 41, Which may be composed of leader-other similarsubstance and is adaptedl to eXternallyengage. the inner end of the tubing.

For the purpose of increasing the coeiiicient of frictiOn-bctWeen'theexpanding member and the tubing, l may provide the expanding member with a lnurled outer surface 42, substantiallyas. shown in Fig...2.

The assembly of the typev of coupling illustratedin Figs..1.:to4,;inclusive, -is effecten as follows the expanding Amember "19 .is .placed -in the'tubingA 22 ,or 23)-wvith one lofthe lineargrooves 24 in `alignment' with .the proj ections 25..and 26. 'The 1tubing is then 4placed in the recess:L (121er. 13) with` the .inner end in 4firmengagementwith the ,packing ring 41. rEhe coupling ,-is .then rotated vin the .usual manner, `drawing the expanding collar :19 .toward Ithe shoulder .16,.and thereby effect- .ingapowerful .vv/edging. .forcenpon the .tubing.holding` .same .-in place 'by frictional engagement ...between the .contacting surfaces.

V.111.0rder tthat :I may .obtainra greater .ad-

- vance :of .the eXpandingJnember into vthe coupling, and thereby gain. a greaterI Wcd .ing action .upon the` tubing. member, I may use an eXpa-ndingmember of the typeshown inF-igs. Vfand 6. -Th-is member comprises a split expanding collar 50, having a .threaded outwardly' tapered inner surface' 51 and a substantially cylindrical "outer surface '52, `which -may optionally *be 'provided with knurling The expanding Lcollar -is further `provided with an inner'flange 54, which -is .of slightly less-'diameter lthan the y'tubin'gi member-.22ct. The `--tubing122a., which thc lthe slot.5( Yof .theexpandingmember` .50 .for the purpose of..p.reventing relative. .rotation .bei-tween .the two members.A 'l`he-slotf57` is fur- -isva"dapted Ato engage the-'outer face-55V of flange 54, is .provided Witbwa projecti. n

' Ather.rProvided with apaclring disk-5S, ivV Lich .vancedrelative Ato the coupling member 11aJ by Vmeans of the expanding `member-50, and that :the limit ofrelative advance between the-two members `is governed ent-irel-yby the lWedging action vof the expanding member, since therecanlbe-no bind1ng Vbetween the end fof"tl1etube122and the shoulder or seat 17a.

'lt Will be understood 4that the expanding ring 50 may be used with any of the. three above describedtypes-of coupling collars.

IWVhile'f'Ifhave herein-'shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it Will be understood that various features of the same map be readily adapted by those familiar with the art Without in the least departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as described above and in the accompanying claims.

'l claim asmy invention 1. A tool joint comprising: tubing members having aligned projections therein; an expanding -member adapted to externally engage said projections; and a coupling member"baving annular recesses formed in the external ends thereof adapted to receive said tubular member and said expanding member, said coupling'imember frecesses and said eK pending unember .being `.provided with coopera-ting threaded surfaces for veiiecting ythe advancement:and'expansion Ofsaid .expanding member relatively thereto.

.2. ier-tool joint comprising: tubing mem-- bersihavinga .projection therein; an expanding Amember adapted :to externally engage said projection tand a coupling-member-comprising a `pluralityofl cooperatively threaded sections, having-:annular recessesrffor-'med in the external ends thereof-adapted to receive said tubular member 4and saidI expanding member, said coupling Vmember recesses and said evpanding member being provided with cooperating. threaded surfaces for eli'ecting the advancement and expansion `of said -exypanding. lmemberrelatively thereto.

A-tool-joint comprising: tubing members each having a projectiontherein ,.any eX- .panding member having a .lmurled external surface and adaptedto externally engage said projection; :a coupling member. having' annuiar recessesformed in theexternal lends thereof adapted to receive-said tubularmcmber and said expanding member', said coupling-member recesses and said expand-ing lmember ybeing[provided With 'cooperating threaded' surfaces for effecting the advancement Vandexpansion'of said expanding'mem- ,ber relatively thereto.

Y 4. .Ai `tool joint comprising z` tubing: mem- .bers and i a coupling member. .interposed .betweensaid `tubing members. .including split ring frictional :members adapted .to be eX- rpanded and .cooperatively mounted between said tubing-,members and said couplingmember for preventing'- longitudinal movement 'therebetweens 5. A tool joint comprising: tubing members; and a coupling vmember interposed between said tubing .members including' split Aring frictional members adapted .to be eX- panded, said frictional members being providedivith lmurled engaging surfaces.

6. A tool joint comprising: tubing-membersyaxcoupling member having tubing recel fing vrecesses in thelends thereof; expanding-members Iinternal-ly engageable `throutvgh cooperating threads-With saidV couplingref Cil cesses, and externally engageable with said tubing members; and means preventing the relative rotation between said expanding members and said tubing members.

7. A tool lioint comprising: tubing members; a coupling member having tubing receiving recesses in the ends thereof; expanding members internally engageable through Cooperating threads with said coupling res, (fesses and externally engageable with said V tubing members; and means preventing the relative rotation between said expanding members and said tubing members, comprising cooperating linear grooves and projec- (ft tlOIlS.

8. A tool joint comprising: tubing members; a sleeve interposed between the ends of said tubing members having annular taper threaded recesses to receive the ends of said tubing members; and split ring members in said recesses adapted to engage said threadsx and to wedge the ends of said tubing members: into tight engagement with said sleeve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set. ,Y my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 18thday of October, 1927.

AUGUST L. SEGELHORST, 

